Do you believe God really answers prayer?  The demands of this world and our hectic pace can be overwhelming, causing feelings of panic, powerlessness, even paranoia. How can we keep it all in perspective and stay close to our Father? The answer is prayer.

Prayer isn’t something we rehearse or proclaim publicly in hopes of honor or recognition from man. Prayer is personal and precious. It isn’t something mystic, only known to a few folks in church. It’s an act of worship on our part toward God, the created to the Creator. Prayer is simply talking to God about anything and everything under the sun.

Two years ago, during the middle of a funeral for a dear friend, God impressed upon my heart a message to share with a minister in my church who was the organist at the funeral. The congregation gathered for lunch after the service; I made a bee line for Jean to compliment the beautiful music. I sang under Jean’s leadership for many years.  When the boys were younger, I dropped out of choir using the age-old excuse of too little time and too much to do. I missed it and knew I should be standing there between the two Mrs. Fayes singing praises to the Lord. Everytime I planned to go back, something would happen to hinder it; the enemy keeps us from doing God’s work anyway he can. The day of the funeral, I knew God was nudging me to sing again but what I heard in my heart stung, “the choir is dull and boring; great things are coming.”  Knowing I couldn’t keep it bottled up inside me, I told Jean what God spoke to my heart and promised I would return to choir.  

The next few months were difficult.  I felt frustrated with myself for sharing this negative comment; yet, I knew God put it on my heart for a reason, even though I didn’t understand. After weeks of persistent praying, I finally sang with the choir during worship. Still, I felt an uneasiness in my spirit. Cameron helped me find peace and promise as he led me to scriptures and encouraged me to pray for the leadership in our church. He told me I was not the one to bring change, that God brings change through the leadership. I should be praying for our leaders instead of trying to fix things or change things out of alignment of God’s order.  The biblical principles he shared made me look at situations in my church, my business, our nation, even my personal life in a different light. 1 Timothy 2:1-2 made me think deeply about how I prayed about things, “First of all, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgiving, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity.”  We should pray for our leaders. We may not agree with their policies, politics or procedures, but we should pray for them, asking God to direct their steps, guide them and bring blessings through their leadership. And if they don’t know Him, to bring them into the fold. We are so quick to judge and criticize those in leadership positions; oh that we would channel that negative energy into intensive praying for leaders in government, ministries, churches, organizations, businesses, even our homes. God doesn’t listen to our moaning and groaning about the need for change or how unfair and “off the right track” things are in our life, our home, our church, our nation, our world. He does hear our prayers when we get our hearts right with Him and go to Him in humbleness, and He answers them too — in His time and His way. Meanwhile, we must remain faithful and focused, never giving up on what we know is planted in our hearts from Him. The fruit will come. Peace comes in one of my favorite verses, “Wait on the Lord, be of good courage and He shall strengthen thine heart.”    

God gave me the opportunity to share my feelings with my choir family.  I asked forgiveness if I had hurt anyone, but stood strong on my convicted heart that we should embrace change with a positive spirit and excitement in our singing and praising God wholeheartedly. I left choir practice that Saturday afternoon with a deflated spirit even though I obeyed God; I asked Him to take away the lonliness and rejection I felt inside. The next day he sent a friend who shared how my words touched her; He always sends an angel to keep us keeping on when it would be so easy to give up. I prayed harder than ever in the following weeks, calling my pastors’ names, our mayor’s name, our state and national leaders’ names, thanking God for them and asking Him to give them protective covering and insight into representing and respecting what is right and good for the people they serve and lead- to bring them closer to Him and if they didn’t know and honor Him, to come into their hearts and change their lives.

 Our next choir rehearsal, God impressed upon my heart that change was coming and it would be wonderful, that every seat in our choir room would be filled. I held this promise in my heart and kept praying. If we wait on Him, He always does what He promises, just not always in the way we think He will do it. One year later, I stood between Mrs. Mary and Ashley, waiting for our choir director, Jean, to bring in all 50-plus voices together on the first note of our Christmas Cantata, The Name of Jesus. My heart smiled as we sang. What a joyful noise we made, every chair was filled!  Tears rolled down my cheeks as my eyes met Jean’s. Our hearts were joined in the sweet spirit that swept across our choir room with such power and glory. This heavenly choir came together when Holly Grove Holiness Church Praise and Worship Team joined First Baptist Church Choir to practice and present this awesome musical to both congregations. The seed for this change, for crossing denomination lines and coming together in one accord — red and yellow, black and white — as one body of believers, worshiping and praising God began 18 months earlier. Holly Grove’s pastor and my pastor rode to class together. As they traveled to Campbell, God touched their hearts and helped them vision the beauty of bringing their flocks together for praise and worship. The leaders of these two churches made this change possible. I thought of Cameron’s words and my prayers for pastor Cava and pastor Jacobs. I was reminded that anything is possible with God as we sang the last song at Holly Grove; people praised God with amens, hallelujahs, and hands raised to heaven. The last song brought hearty clapping and amens at First Baptist the following Sunday. Our pastor led us in a rousing Hallelujah! My tears of joy rolled. Jean’s eyes danced as the glory of God shone all around her. I stood on the top riser feeling oh so close to heaven and soaking up the sweet spirit that filled our beautiful churches.  My heart was happy as I thanked my Lord for answering prayers and keeping promises in His way and His time! Amen!